Improvement in row-locks



G. C. WILEN.

Row Locks.

Patented May 13. 1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE- GEORGE O. WILEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROW-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,972, dated May 13, 1873; application filed March 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. WILEN, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Row-Lock Support, of which the following is a specification:

It is well known that the ordinary row-lock is short-lived, almost always loose and out of order, rendering it difficult, and sometimes almost impossible, to properly manage the oars. The reason of this is the row-lock is confined by a single socket or bearing in therim or rail of the boat.

I propose to give the row-lock two bearings or a support above the rail-socket; and my invention consists in a bracket or bail hinged to the rail, or, rather, to a plate, through which the row-lock passes, the construction and arrangement being as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-section of a boat taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 2, with the row-lock attached to the top of the rail or gunwale. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section with the rowlock attached in the same manner, but giving a side View. Figs. 3 and 4 are the same views, the former being a section of the latter on the line 1 y, but showing the row-lock attached to the side of the rail.

' Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the rail of the boat. -B is the socketplate on the top side of the rail, and attached by screws or bolts. B is the row-lock. When the plate is placed on top of the rail the stem of the row-lock simply passes through a hole therein. When it is attached to the side the stem passes through an eye on the side or face of the plate, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. O is the supporting-bail, which is attached to the face of the plate by means of ears D D and pivots, as seen in all the figures. This supportingbail may be attached directly to the rail; but I prefer the plate. In the center of this bail is a hole which receives the stem E of the row-lock. When the row-lock is attached the bail stands upright, as represented; and when not in use the bail drops down, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

It will be seen the row-lock is supported by two bearings instead of one, and is kept steady and in working order at all times.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The socket-plate B and bail 0, combined with the row-lock of a boat, as and for the purposes described.

GEORGE G. WILEN.

Witnesses OWEN MCDONALD, F. K. MULL. 

